All the World’s a Stage By William Shakespeare

As You Like It All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.

1. Brainstorming With your group, create a list of “things” - - such as activities, clothes, toys, possessions, desires, favorite words or phrases - - that you would expect someone in this stage of life to do, say, have and/or be involved with.

2. Tableaux Now create a tableaux incorporating several of these items.

2. Tableaux Now create a tableaux incorporating several of these items. Bring the tableaux to life for a count of ten and then “freeze.”

2. Tableaux Add words to your tableaux. Possibilities: An introduction statement. Words or phrases to be said by the members of the tableaux during the “count of ten.” Other ideas? A concluding statement.

2. Tableaux Do you have a clear... – Beginning? – Middle? – Ending? Does everyone have a part?

3. Performance Your “job” is to be an attentive audience member until it is your turn to perform. Starting with group 1, we will go around our circle and perform our Tableaux. Set up and freeze. – > Begin. – > Middle. – > End.

4. Shakespeare’s lines With your group, – stand in a Circle and read your lines together 2x. – discuss what the words mean – discuss what gestures, actions and facial expressions could be used to help show the words

4. Shakespeare’s lines Add the words, phrases, or lines from Shakespeare to your tableaux. Decide what words of yours to keep, what words of Shakespeare’s to use; you must include Shakespeare’s words, but not necessarily all of them.

5. Performance Your “job” is to be an attentive audience member until it is your turn to perform. Starting with group 1, we will go around our circle and perform our Tableaux. Set up and freeze. – > Begin. – > Middle. – > End.

JOURNAL Please reflect on today’s work: 1. Your group work. Your part. 2. Shakespeare’s language. 3. Shakespeare’s extended metaphor: – All the world’s a stage, – And all the men and women merely players; – They have their exits and their entrances; – And one man in his time plays many parts, – His acts being seven ages.